IT’S NOT EVEN A QUESTIONBY. EMILY COOKThere’s been a lot of fuss lately in the Christian community about things going on in the public sphere. There’s been a lot of talkabout the new sex education curriculum in Ontario, or the recent decision to legalize gay marriage across the United States. All ofthese discussions can be healthy and necessary, but in those talks, are we asking ourselves – what is the purpose? What do you hope toachieve? Do you really know what you’re talking about?

A U.S. Supreme Court decision, made in June 2015, deemed marriage between people of the same sex to be constitutionally protected
nationwide, and the media exploded. There has been a lot of responses from the Christian community – people being upset, and wanting
to express those feelings. But I heard it well from someone commenting along the way: Are your comments intended to bring people
closer to God – or to distance them from Him?

I believe that the Bible teaches marriage to be between one man and one woman in the perfect world God intended: “That is why a man
leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh”- Genesis 2: 24. I believe it teaches homosexuality to
be a sin. But I also believe the Bible teaches lying, adultery, gossip, and slander to all be sin as well.

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived;
neither fornicators, nor idolaters,
nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor
homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the
covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the
kingdom of God” – 1 Corinthians
6: 9-10. I don’t cite this verse to
solely point out the sin of homosexuality. This verse shows that this sin
is listed among adultery, drunkards,
and even those who covet (desire
for things that aren’t theirs). It
doesn’t say “…and the worst one is
homosexuality.” We are ALL sinful
and we ALL fall short of God’s
righteousness and holiness (Romans
3: 23). Why, as a Christian community, are we not seeing ourselves
on a level ground with the rest of
the world who are a fallen, broken,
people? He who is without sin cast
the first stone (John 8: 7).

Yes, this is a hot topic, and yes,
the Christian community needs
to be firm in standing up for and
expressing their convictions on this
issue. And yes, if this discussion
were within a church it would be a
different conversation. Inside the
church we are, or should be, striving towards being made like Christ,
and are therefore held to different
standards. You can’t expect a world
without Christ to live like Christ.
But when talking about the world –
we need to know they can’t be held
to the standards of a Christian when
they are not one!

Above all, these conversations need to be done
out of love. Why do we approach someone who is
homosexual differently than someone who is having sex outside of marriage? Or who is committing
adultery? Or who covets their neighbour’s house, or
car, or job? I understand this issue is on a broader
scale than one-on-one conversations, but we can
never forget that God is ultimately in control. Do
you think He doesn’t know this is going on? You
think wrong. He is all-powerful and all-knowing
and He doesn’t need to be protected.

Think about what is truly behind the root of your
conversations on this topic before you open your
mouth. Is what you have to say glorifying to God?

Is it humble? Is it coming from the knowledge thatyou are fallen, and you are sinful,and only Christ can save you too?Christ ate with sinners and taxcollectors and showed them love.